Teen pleads guilty to store robbery; gets probation - KYTX CBS 19 Tyler Longview News Weather Sports

SMITH COUNTY (TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - A 17-year-old Tyler man pleaded guilty today to his role in robbing a convenience store owner in January and was sentenced to eight years probation.

Michael Avory Hayles pleaded guilty to engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony, and was sentenced by 241st District Judge Jack Skeen Jr. to deferred adjudication probation. If he completes the terms of his probation, the conviction could be wiped from his record. The second-degree robbery charge against Hayles was dismissed in the plea agreement.

Hayles' co-defendant, Jamon Nicholas Taylor, 18, of Tyler, pleaded guilty in July to the same charge, and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Prosecutors have said that the store owner and victim, Nazir Kazmi, identified Taylor in court testimony that Taylor was one of two men who beat him in January, while two other men, who entered his Conoco convenience store at the same time, ran behind the counter and robbed him of cigarettes.

The robbery took place Jan. 27 at the store at Van Highway and West Gentry Parkway.

Kazmi testified he closed his store recently because business had been slow and because he has been scared since the robbery.

Prosecutors said Taylor was alleged to belong to the North Side Crips, a Tyler street gang.

The two other suspects identified in the robbery were Stephen Ray Sadler, 18; and Prince Kentrell Hull, 18.

Hull and Sadler each pleaded guilty July 30 to engaging in organized criminal activity. Hull was sentenced to 15 years in prison while Sadler received a 20-year prison sentence.